Chapter 3: The Blue Oni’s Trial
Haru groaned as he pushed himself up from the cold, uneven stone floor. His ribs screamed in protest, pain lancing through his body with every movement.
His fall had left him battered, bruised, and dangerously low on health. His flickering torch barely illuminated the massive cavern around him, the jagged rock formations stretching into endless darkness.
**How deep had he fallen?**
His breathing was ragged, his heart pounding in his chest. The last thing he remembered was fighting goblins in the cave above—he had been careful, taking them down one by one. Then, a mistake. One goblin had escaped. A shriek. A horde upon him. Running. A misstep. And then…
The fall.
Haru gritted his teeth and pulled up his status screen.
>> Player: Haru
Level: 1
HP: 12/50
Strength: 4
Agility:3
Endurance:3
Mana: 1
> **Status Effects: Minor Fracture (Ribs), Exhaustion**
> **Skills: [Dagger Proficiency Lv.1] [Stealth Lv.2]**
> **Special Trait: ????**
**Too weak.**
He cursed under his breath. He had planned to level up **safely**, grinding weaker enemies and taking as few risks as possible. Now, he was trapped in a dungeon **far beyond his level**, low on health, and possibly already marked for death.
He forced himself to his feet, gripping his dagger tightly. The air here was different—**thick, heavy, unnatural.** The silence wasn't just empty—it was **watching**.
Then he heard it.
**THUD.**
A single, heavy footstep echoed through the cavern. Then another.
Haru froze.
Something **huge** was moving in the darkness beyond his torchlight.
His pulse quickened. He took a slow step back, careful not to make a sound. Maybe it hadn't seen him yet—maybe he could hide, maybe he could—
**THUD.**
**No.**
It had seen him.
And it was **coming.**
The shadows stirred. A massive figure stepped forward, illuminated by the dim torchlight.
**Red skin.**
That was the first thing Haru saw—the deep, blood-red tone of its powerful arms and legs. Then—**armor**, heavy black metal adorned with strange, worn engravings. And finally—the **sword**.
A **Buster sword**, taller than Haru himself, rested effortlessly on one massive shoulder.
Then the monster stepped fully into the light.
Haru's breath caught in his throat.
A **Blue Oni.**
She towered over him, at least **three meters tall**, her **amber eyes burning** in the darkness. Long, wild **midnight-blue hair** cascaded down her back, tied loosely with a golden band. Two **sharp horns** protruded from her forehead, their edges curved like a blade.
She exuded **raw, primal power**.
Haru had read about Onis in the system guide—monstrous warriors of immense strength and endurance. But this wasn't just any Oni.
**This was a Boss-Class monster.**
Haru's body screamed at him to **run.**
**But he had nowhere to go.**
His hand gripped his dagger so tightly his knuckles turned white. He wouldn't win in a fight. That much was obvious.
Then what could he do?
The Oni took another step forward, and the ground trembled beneath her weight. Her grip tightened around her sword, and Haru knew—**she was about to strike.**
His heart pounded.
His mind raced.
And then, before he could stop himself—
**He raised both hands in surrender.**
The Oni halted mid-step.
The air was tense, heavy with anticipation. Her **fiery amber gaze** bore into him, as if contemplating whether he was even worth crushing.
Haru swallowed hard. His throat was dry, his body trembling, but he didn't lower his hands.
**If I fight, I die. If I run, I die. If I surrender…**
His mind scrambled for an explanation, a plan, **any reason why she shouldn't kill him right now.**
Then he did the only thing he could think of.
**He bowed.**
It was awkward, stiff—his body ached too much to move properly—but he bent forward as deeply as his injuries allowed.
The Oni's fingers twitched around the hilt of her sword. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face.
Haru slowly straightened. His heart pounded so loudly he could barely hear his own thoughts.
**She was hesitating.**
That was all he needed.
He took a slow step forward, then another, hands still raised in submission. His entire body screamed at him to turn and run, but he ignored it.
The Oni didn't move. She simply watched.
Her grip on her sword remained firm, but she wasn't attacking.
She was **waiting.**
**4. The First Trial**
Haru stopped just a few feet from her, **close enough to see the scars on her armor, the war-worn edges of her blade.**
This wasn't just some mindless monster.
She was a warrior. A battle-hardened fighter who had likely existed for centuries.
What did warriors respect?
**Strength.**
Haru took a deep breath and, with shaking fingers, reached for his dagger.
The Oni tensed.
But Haru didn't raise it to fight. Instead, **he flipped it in his palm—**
**And offered it to her.**
A silent declaration.
**I cannot defeat you. But I do not wish to die. If you would take my life, then I will not resist.**
The Oni's expression shifted.
Surprise.
Curiosity.
Then something else.
The massive warrior **let out a low, rumbling breath**—not quite a sigh, not quite a growl.
Then, in a motion too fast for Haru to react, she swung her Buster sword—
**And stopped just inches from his throat.**
The air **hummed** with the sheer force of her blade.
Haru didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't even **breathe.**
Then, finally—
She withdrew her sword.
Haru nearly collapsed. His legs trembled, his lungs burned, but he didn't dare show weakness.
The Oni tilted her head slightly, studying him. Then she raised a single hand—**and pointed at him.**
Haru blinked.
Haru's breath was ragged, his legs trembling as he stared up at the towering Blue Oni.
He was **still alive.**
That alone should've been impossible. The sheer power radiating from her made it clear—**she could have crushed him in an instant.** And yet, she hadn't.
Instead, she had tested him.
And now, she was **watching him.**
Her golden eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto him like a predator assessing prey—**but she didn't strike.**
That was when it happened.
**Ding!**
A golden screen suddenly **flickered** into existence before Haru's eyes.
> **SYSTEM ALERT!**
> **New Trait Discovered: [Lady Killer]**
> **This unique ability grants the user influence over powerful female entities. Unlock bonding, loyalty boosts, and exclusive power-sharing options!**
Haru's eyes widened. His **first talent.**
After all this time—after being ridiculed as **talentless**, after being cast aside—he finally had a **unique ability.**
And not just any ability.
An ability that could **bond with and influence powerful female beings.**
**Like her.**
His gaze flicked back to the Oni. Was that why she hadn't killed him? Had his system activated in response to his surrender and bravery?
His hands clenched into fists.
This wasn't a coincidence.
This was **his chance.**
A **new prompt** appeared before Haru's eyes, glowing faintly in the darkness.
> **Do you wish to form a Familiar Bond with [Unnamed Blue Oni]?**
> **WARNING: A bond cannot be forcibly imposed. The entity must willingly accept.**
Haru exhaled slowly.
**It had to be mutual.**
He turned to face her, willing his voice to remain steady.
"I don't know if you can understand me," he said cautiously. "But I want to form a bond with you."
The Oni's expression didn't change, but her fingers **tightened slightly** on the hilt of her massive Buster sword.
She was **listening.**
"I don't want to fight you. I want to become stronger," Haru continued. "And I think… you're looking for something too."
Silence.
Then, slowly, the Oni **tilted her head.**
A sharp **pulse** shot through Haru's chest. His system reacted, sensing something—a **shifting energy** between them.
His screen flickered again.
> **Compatibility: 40% → 60%**
She was **considering it.**
But it wasn't enough.
Haru took a deep breath and made his final gamble.
He lowered his dagger, turned the handle toward himself, and **offered it to her—hilt first.**
A warrior's gesture.
A sign of trust.
The Oni's golden eyes gleamed. For a moment, she stood still. Then—**she moved.**
Her large hand reached out, wrapped around the dagger—then, in one smooth motion, she flipped it and **pressed the flat of the blade against Haru's chest.**
> **Bond Accepted.**
> **[Unnamed Blue Oni] has become your Familiar.**
A **golden sigil** flared to life in the air between them before **sinking into Haru's skin.** A wave of warmth surged through him, replacing the aches and exhaustion with a newfound **clarity.**
His **Lady Killer ability had worked.**
She was now **his first Familiar.**
Haru gasped as **data flooded his vision.**
> **[Familiar Acquired: Blue Oni]**
> **Title Unlocked: "Monster Tamer"**
> **New System Functions Available!**
He quickly pulled up his status screen, eager to understand his new power.
#### **[Lady Killer System]**
**Primary Functions:**
- **Bond:** Form a connection with a powerful female entity, increasing loyalty and granting special skills.
- **Strength Share:** Transfer experience and energy between bonded familiars.
- **Affinity Boost:** Increase a Familiar's strength over time through trust and interaction.
- **Exclusive Evolution Paths:** Familiars may develop unique growth trees based on the bond level.
Haru's heart pounded.
**This was beyond anything he had imagined.**
Not only could he bond with powerful women, but he could **directly strengthen them**, evolve them, and share power between them.
This wasn't just a skill.
It was a **game-changer.**
His eyes flicked back to the Oni. She stood silently, watching him. No hostility. No aggression. **She was waiting.**
Waiting for his command.
He straightened, still reeling from the flood of information, but already forming a plan.
"If you're willing to follow me," he said slowly, "then let's see how deep this dungeon really goes."
The Oni didn't respond. She didn't need to.
Instead, she simply turned toward the shadowy depths of the cavern—**and started walking.**
Haru took a deep breath and followed.
The ruins grew **darker, colder** the deeper they went. What had once been a simple underground cave now resembled the remains of a forgotten **fortress.**
Walls of cracked stone lined the corridors, faded murals barely visible beneath centuries of dust. The air was thick with **the scent of decay and something older.**
Haru kept his dagger close, but he no longer felt **alone.**
The Oni moved beside him, her every step **silent despite her massive size.** She was alert, scanning their surroundings, ready to strike at any sign of danger.
And there would be danger.
Haru's **instincts screamed** that something ancient lurked here.
Then—
**A sudden growl.**
From the darkness ahead, **figures began to stir.**
A **pair of glowing red eyes** snapped open in the void. Then another. And another.
Haru's breath caught in his throat.
**[New Enemy Identified: Revenant Warriors – Level 8]**
A **dozen armored corpses** rose from the ground, skeletal fingers tightening around rusted weapons.
Their hollow eye sockets **burned with eerie crimson fire.**
Haru's grip on his dagger tightened.
They were too strong. He couldn't take them head-on.
But then, before he could even react—
**The Oni moved.**
She launched forward, her massive blade **swinging in a deadly arc.**
The first Revenant had no time to react. The **Buster sword cleaved through its torso like butter**, shattering ancient armor and bone in a single strike.
The remaining undead **lurched forward.**
Haru's heart pounded. **Now or never.**
"Let's go!"
He surged forward, dagger flashing. The Oni tore through the horde, her attacks **devastating and relentless**, while Haru darted through openings, aiming for weak points.
**For the first time… he wasn't fighting alone.**
The battle was **fierce, chaotic,** but Haru could **feel** it—the connection between him and the Oni, the way their movements were beginning to sync.
They **fought together.**
And together…
The last Revenant collapsed, its bones crumbling into dust.
Haru exhaled heavily, glancing at his system screen.
> **Level Up!**
> **Haru – Level 1 → Level 3!**
> **Oni – Level 12→ Level 13!**
A slow smile spread across his face.